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“I found some old photographs in the attic of you and Grandma and Phoebe that you’re going to like. Phoebe’s holding you and looking as excited as I’ve ever seen her.”
It grew quiet and a telltale sniff told Talulah her mother was weeping.
“Thanks for being there for me since I can’t be there myself,” her mother said once she’d regained her composure.
“Of course,” Talulah said. “Are you going to be okay?”
“Oh, yeah. It’s just...hard to lose someone who’s been such a big part of your foundation.”
“The timing hasn’t made it any easier.”
“You’re right. I wish I could be there.”
“I bet.” But then Carolyn would probably feel some guilt and question whether she was as committed to the mission as she should be.
“Have you seen Charlie?”
“As a matter of fact, I have.”
“How’s he treating you?”
Talulah peered under the bandage on her arm. She knew her mother would hear about what’d happened at some point. She might even tell Carolyn herself. But she wasn’t going to do it now. She preferred to give Carolyn time to grieve for Phoebe without making her worry about Talulah’s situation, too. “He’s not friendly, of course, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“You’re such a strong woman. I’m so proud of you.”
Surprised that her mother hadn’t brought up the gossip swirling around her, Talulah stopped rocking. “You are?”
“What mother wouldn’t be?” Carolyn said, sounding equally surprised.
“Even though I walked out when I was supposed to marry the son of one of your best friends?”
“I won’t lie—I wish you’d backed out a little earlier,” she said, “but at least you didn’t marry a man you wouldn’t be happy with.”
Sinking back into the swing, Talulah started to rock again. “That makes me feel a lot better. Thanks, Mom.”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“I should let you go so you can get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a big day.”
Talulah was about to say goodbye when she saw headlights on the road in front of her aunt’s house. A vehicle was approaching. Normally, she wouldn’t have thought anything of it. Anyone could be passing by, even teenagers out screwing around like she used to do with her friends. But it was a bit late for that. “Talulah?” her mother prompted.
“I’m here,” she said into the phone, but jumped to her feet and hurried back into the house. “I’m heading off to bed,” she added, trying to keep the alarm out of her voice. “I’ll call you after the funeral tomorrow.”
“Don’t worry that it might be late in this part of the world. I’ll be anxious to hear from you.”
“I understand.” She disconnected and pressed her back flat against the wall as she peered carefully around the edge of the small side window next to the one that’d been broken last night.
It was a car, not a truck. She could tell by the general size and shape.
Whoever it was didn’t turn down her drive, like the vehicle last night. It slowed to a crawl as it passed, however, which led her to believe the driver had come by her house intentionally and wasn’t just out driving around.
Who was it? And what did they want? Talulah was afraid to stick her head out too far for fear that whoever it was would see her and decide to turn in and throw something else or terrorize her in some other way. It wasn’t until after the car had passed and started to speed up again that she tried to get a better look.
Then she didn’t know if it was an inability to see clearly or prejudice that made her think it was the same car Averil had been driving when she showed up at Brant’s this morning.
Fourteen
